The Starling Child

The Starlings and the Oldham are two distinct but separate cultures that coexist peacefully in the prosperous and cultural city of Oldham. The Starlings are a powerful and influential minority, a matriarchal culture practicing a strange blend of science and magic that draws suspicion, fear, and prejudice from the Oldham. Rabin Challen is of the elite trader class, an Oldham teenager who admires the beautiful Starling priestess Celan from afar but knows that social interaction between the two cultures is forbidden. Celan senses this and makes Rabin an object of torment. Rumors circulate that Oldham is threatened by an army of savage warriors from the southern land of Druvia and mysterious strangers and strange beasts begin to appear in the city as several bodies are discovered. Many feel this is a prelude to an invasion. Celan's mother is the Starling high priestess and rallies the population. Rabin joins hunting parties to rid Oldham of a shadow-fang, a poisonous nocturnal creature from Druvia. But this is only a precursor of what is going to happen. Oldham is attacked by the Druvians and the population is enslaved as Rabin narrowly escapes with Celan. Suddenly Rabin finds himself in a relationship forbidden by his people and begins to learn of the strange and intriguing world of the Starlings. Celan becomes with child as she guides Rabin through strange lands filled with huge wood cats and giant tree spiders until they arrive at the Starling Sanctuary hidden in the Ancient Northern Forest. As Rabin lives among the Starlings he learns of a terrible power that has been held secret for centuries. He also learns of the reason for the Starlings' existence and why this awesome power is held exclusively by the priestesses of the Order. But this knowledge carries a price because he may have to remain a prisoner in the Sanctuary while his people are enslaved by an occupying army.

• | Author: Robert a Gable
• | Publisher: Independently published
• | Publication Date: Jul 08, 2019
• | Number of Pages: 343 pages
• | Language: English
• | Binding: Paperback
• | ISBN-10: 1079312978
• | ISBN-13: 9781079312973